Mixing Ancient and Modern

[Vegan Scot]

I have no problem mixing different color schemes of a tartan (i.e. modern waistcoat, ancient kilt), but I'd strongly advise that you steer clear of mixing a tartan tie with a kilt. Better to save the tartan tie for wear with a tweed jacket and trousers!

Definitely will take this under advisement. I had a sneaking suspicion it might not be something that was "done." Out of curiosity, what is the difference between wearing a tartan waistcoat with a kilt as opposed to a tartan tie with a kilt? And how does one know which articles of clothing are compatible?

[MacRobert's Reply]

A waistcoat (vest) usually cut on the bias in the same tartan as the kilt, but not necessarily the same colour shades, is particularly appropriate, especially in the evening.

Hose knitted on the bias in the same tartan as the kilt is appropriate for evening black or white tie. Rarely will the colour shades exactly match the kilt.

People also wear ties and garter flashes in tartan to match the kilt but this is generally considered undesirable by well-informed kilt wearers.

Tartan sporrans and bonnets should be avoided like the plague!

As others have said, wear the tartan tie when you are in bifurcated garments.

[Nighthawk]

A waistcoat (vest) usually cut on the bias in the same tartan as the kilt, but not necessarily the same colour shades, is particularly appropriate, especially in the evening.

Hose knitted on the bias in the same tartan as the kilt is appropriate for evening black or white tie. Rarely will the colour shades exactly match the kilt.

People also wear ties and garter flashes in tartan to match the kilt but this is generally considered undesirable by well-informed kilt wearers.

Tartan sporrans and bonnets should be avoided like the plague!

As others have said, wear the tartan tie when you are in bifurcated garments.

Here's a slightly different perspective- I love to wear tartan ties and flashes with solid colored kilts. I love to wear my Dress MacLeod tie and flashes with a black kilt. Makes for a really nice color contrast. On the other hand... I never, EVER wear a tartan tie with a tartan kilt!

[xman]

Seems fine to the Captain of Clanranald.



Here he is doing it again.



(Glengarry seems to be wearing two different Ancient colours cloths too.)

[Jock Scot]

It is quite acceptable to wear different tartans of the SAME clan.If you are a MacLeod or MacDonald for example those two clans have at least 10 tartans each to choose from and that is before we start to think of the ancient, modern, weathered colours from different mills! Tartan ties can and are worn with the kilt, as are tartan flashes, but in my humble opinion they both are best avoided.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I would throw my opinion in with those who say avoid tartan ties. I have several tartan ties and wear them often... with trousers. Just not with the kilt.

Now, I know people who love to wear their tartan tie with their kilt, and even those who wear different ties of a different tartan than their kilt, and they think it looks just fine. So it is done. And probably no one will bat an eye if you choose to do it. However, my opinion, which is shared by many, is that non-tartan ties look better with the kilt. Solid ties are great. Club stripe, school or regimental ties look great with the kilt. Ties with small patterns in general look fine.

As to the question of wearing modern and ancient tartans together, sure this is certainly done.

The Atholl Highlanders are a prime example.

[davidlpope]

Definitely will take this under advisement. I had a sneaking suspicion it might not be something that was "done." Out of curiosity, what is the difference between wearing a tartan waistcoat with a kilt as opposed to a tartan tie with a kilt? And how does one know which articles of clothing are compatible?

"Compatability" isn't determined on whether the tartan waistcoat and kilt (or waistcoat and necktie) exactly match. As Jock, Matt, etc. have pointed out, you're generally okay with different tartans from the same clan.

My dislike of tartan neckties with the kilt is on a different basis. They don't seem to have ever traditionally been worn with the kilt, whereas tartan waistcoats, particularly on the bias, have a long pedigree.

My take on the tartan necktie phenomenon is that it is a result of ill-informed kilt-wearers, usually Americans, who have the misconceived notion that "I need to buy a kilt, tartan flashes to match my kilt, a tartan tie to match my kilt, and coordinating clan crest sporran and sgian dubh to be properly kitted out in highland attire." You definitely see this done here at Highland Games, but it just doesn't look "right" IMHO.

It's the same problem that leads well-meaning, but ignorant, folks to show up at a Highland Games wearing a Prince Charlie and black tie (saw this last weekend at Stone Mt.). Folks are sold a Prince Charlie when they buy their kilt and think, "this is what Scots wear with their kilts." So, when it comes time to wear their kilt, they think, "I better put on that 'Scottish Jacket' that you wear with the kilt..." Better to study historical and current photos to see how Highlanders actually wore and wear the kilt, I think.

Cordially,

David

[McConnell Mor]

It seems to me from historical reports that the Scots seemed to wear a variety of different tartan. I see no issue in this whatsoever. I wear various macdonald clan tartan together, fly plaid, tie, and kilt to represent the various branches of the family I descend from and "advertise" the clan itself and its numerous branches. I would say however, that mixing clans might bring some whispers, and stares. I do agree though that a solid color tie looks much better when worn with the kilt as opposed to the tartan tie. When I wear a vest, under a blazer with the Kilt I will at times wear a tartan tie.

[ForresterModern]

Due to my height (and extra-long torso) when I wear my custom length tweed Argyll and waistcoat with the kilt, there is enough visual separation of a tartan tie from the kilt that it is usually not as problematic as others here have stated concern for, although I still try to shy away from the practice and instead wear a small patterned tie with similar color scheme to the tartan in the kilt. I think a lot of it also depends on the "visibility" factor in the tartan in the kilt---the more visible the tartan the harder it is to hide the tartan tie--whereas some more subtle tartans can stay in the background as a tie even when the kilt is a prominent but also subtle presence in the overall outfit.

This is me a couple years ago in Ancient Douglas kilt and tie with Lovat Green Jacket and waistcoat, IMHO not that offensive due to the waistcoat adding to the separation between the tie and kilt and minimizing the amount of tie visible at all:



One other problem is that a lot of tartans used for kilts are woven at standard sett size but the ties in a lighter weight material at a smaller sett size and by a different mill (most commonly Ingles-Buchan), using slightly different color palettes for the same tartan than the kilting material. This makes color matching difficult, and as others have said slight color variations between parts of your attire can really make an otherwise nice outfit look a bit atrocious. Another good reason not to wear a tartan tie with the same tartan kilt.

Okay, now point and laugh at the silly american in the picture. Just remember to notice no white hose, no flat cap, and no bonnet in the house. At least I got some of it right.

jeff

[Jack Daw]

I proudly wear my tartan ties with business suits and sports jackets, but I choose not to wear them with a tartan kilt. One occasion, while I was in Scotland, I forgot to bring a long tie to wear with my argyll jacket and kilt, so I donned a new tie in my clan tartan that was luckily in a different tartan than my clan kilt.